Back to Basics: Autocad Linetypes

SQOTD:
K.M is doing a plat that has an electrical line type that has an “E” in the line. He was hoping to get the “E” to repeat more often and make the text larger so that it can be seen when plotted. How can we do this?

Answer:

To create a new line type the first step is to go out and find the linetype file (acad.lin) stored on your computer under:

C:\Documents and Settings\\Application Data\Autodesk\C3D 2010\R18.0\enu\Support

Notes:

• Vista or Win7 users will find this: C:\Users\\AppData\Roaming\Autodesk\C3D 2010\R18.0\enu\Support 
• For Civil 3D 2011 the path will be ...blah\blah\blah\Autodesk\C3D 2011\enu\Support (substitute appropriate Windows AppData path instead of the blahs.)

Double-click the ACAD.lin file and open it up with notepad.

You’ll see the list of all the “guts” of the linetypes.

Scroll down to the bottom to see a category called user defined linetypes.

You’ll end up pasting something like this at the bottom of the file.

*Electric_LINE,Elec ----E----E----E----E----E----E--
A,.5,-.2,["E",STANDARD,S=.1,R=0.0,X=-0.1,Y=-.05],-.25

Save and close the LIN file, then you’ll be able to add the line in AutoCAD.

Avoid adjusting the size of the line through the acad.lin file, unless you want it to change for all drawings going forward!

The size of the line should be controlled on the front end of Civil 3D.

Make sure the MSLTSCALE variable is set to 1. <--this means the linetypes will adjust with the annotative scale

Make sure the PSLTSCALE variable is also set to 1. <--this means the linetypes will adjust for viewport scale

If you need to change an individual line type’s scale use the Linetype scale setting in regular ACAD properties (civil 3d styles have this setting too). To change all the lines in the drawing together type in LTSCALE at the command line (however, if you have MSLTSCALE and PSLTSCALE set correctly, you shouldn’t have to radically change this.)

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Now, I know I'm going to get an email or comment saying, "Why didn't you tell him to just use the Make Linetype command under express tools?"  I do think that is a swell tool to use after you understand what is happening in the ACAD.lin file.